Requesting meals at wedding
 

Anyone suggest a classy and proper way to request meals for the videographer and assisitant at the reception. How to word in conract.
Thanks

I usually find standing outside the reception window salivating works!

I'd word it into your website/advertising somewhere in a nice way that you work better if fed! Usually, I get offered something by the catering staff without question. Only once have I given up looking sorry for myself and had to venture out in search of food.

Failing that, a flask and some instant noodles!

I prefer to take my own food, at least I know it'll be something I like, and it's often a lot better than that served at the reception!
Also, it gives me a break away from the guests!
If you put it in the contract, it might cost you in the long run, by offending some people. Just cover for it in your prices and fend for yourself.

I don't request a meal AT the reception but it is stated in my service agreement with the couple that a meal is to be provided for the videographers OR we can leave for up to an hour to get food. No one ever wants us to leave so they do provide. Now I don't need to eat what the gueasts are eating nor do I need to sit with them but I DO need to eat. Since MOST not all but most receptions in my area seem to have about a 2 to 3 % rate of no shows (people that RSVP Yes and don't show-very rude IMO) the couple or their representative or the room manager usually tells me and the photog and the DJ to sit where there's an empty seat. They're paying for the meal anyway so why waste it. I like getting out of the room to relax BUT being in the room just in case is good also so it's 6 of one half dozen of the other but back to the original point. I tell my clients and it is in writing that they are to provide a meal and so far in all the years I've been doing it as part of my agreement no one has ever refused nor had a problem with it.
As long as they know in advance-don't wait until the day of.
Don

My contract has this entry--
Provisions. If the total job time exceeds four hours, Videographers must either be supplied food and non-alcoholic beverage(s) by Client, or the Videographers shall be permitted one hour to leave to get food.

None of my clients has had any problems with it, and it's definitely not rude to make sure you get to feed yourself and any assistant(s)...

Kind of long winded but here's mine:

MEALS: If a dinner is planned for your guests we ask that you please add 2 meals to your guest count at the banquet hall. While we generally do not film during this time (for the comfort of your guests), we would prefer to stay at the venue should anything unexpected happen during this time that should be recorded. We also ask, if a buffet is planned that we be allowed to line up directly behind the wedding party so we may quickly finish and begin preparations for the remainder of the evening. If meals are to be served to each table, we ask that a similar serving arrangement be made. Should meal arrangement not be possible (and that’s ok), we will leave the venue for 45 minutes and only after the dinner segment of your day has officially begun.

I never eat at a wedding unless i happen to be in the kitchen and the staff offers. I take something light to eat with me and use that time to get geared up and refocused mentally on the work ahead. For me I just don't think it is the right thing to do.

While this subject has been discussed ad nauseum and both sides discussed, torn apart, argued over and disected almost as many times as copyright issues, I still hold to my original point from 35 years ago even as a still photographer doing weddings. I work a 10 to 12 hour day and I WILL eat. Whether I eat with the guests or have the same meal is irrelavant but I WILL eat. For those that wish to skip a meal and work during that time or feel it's not right (not sure what that means but...) thats their perogative and fine with me but my perogative is to EAT, I'm entitled to a meal whether they provide it or not is not the issue, if they don't I have the right by contract to go out for up to an hour and EAT. A 10 to 12 hour day is too long to go without it.

Again, I'm not saying any one is right or wrong nor am I looking to start a controversy about this subject but too each his or her own. It's what ever you feel works for you or what you need personally from a nutriten standpoint I guess and I suppose at my ripe old age now I need more than some of the younger guys/girls.
Just my $.04 worth (adjusted for 2007 cost of living)

Don

each to their own, but when ur on ur feet for no less than 12hours nonstop, a meal is welcome.. in addiiton to that, i do many weddings with varying cultures and if u DONT eat, they get offended... do a serb or maco wedding and shoo tthe morning stuff and if the mother dont see u eat, theres hell to pay.. lol

I would add, I have on my check sheet a Mars Bar and a drink which I keep in the car. Over here, the pictures are usually taken at a different location to the ceremony. After the ceremony, I'm usually a little frazzled and throw this down my neck as we drive from the church to the pictures location. Especially on sunny days this is a pretty sensible thing to do as you can get dehydrated pretty quickly and there is NOTHING worse than having to film the evening reception with a THUMPING headache because you let yourself get dehydrated (I did it once...hence the checklist entry now!)

berry powerade powder mixed for a 2 litre bottle, frozen overnight, i also take 2 sandwiches and tonnes of mars/snicker bars.. but a meal as in real food is always welcome.. in my contract i put it down as 90min as sometimes reception venues are nowhere near decent eating holes, (i learnt that the hard way once.. lol) another thing i do is ask for breadrolls and butter. if my meal is delayed (which is usually the case as many times the hired help are considered "substandard" so were conveniently forgotten.. ) so were either fed late or not fed at all.. but ive done weddings in certain establishments where i KNOW a meal will be asking for a miracle

Including meals (and parking) is now pretty much a standard thing if u feel you need to have it covered. most couples know to expect this anyway so its really no big deal (even though theyre paying for the meal itself.. )

Meals
 

thanks To All Happy New Year

Wedding dinners typically last an hour and a half which should be plenty of time to finish and be ready to go for the rest of the evening IMO. I've never found anything worthy enough to record during this time anyway without having Aunt Edna in the frame chewing her food like she hadn't eaten since last Tuesday. There have also been times when I've left the venue for 45 minutes and nobody even knew I was gone. I enjoy that little break which only comes after 7-8 hours of non stop work.

To each his own I guess...

I used to wait for the venue to server our food, this has been a pain in the butt. What it comes down to know is, we take our break when we feel is the best time to do so.....and NOT when the venue decides to bring the vendors some food. So, we pack our lunces in a cooler with ice, etc., go to our car or what not and break when we "know" is the best time......this is the only way I will do it anymore. I am not going to let a venue decide when to feed me/my crew.....and they rarely help us out efficiently.

If youre working a long wedding day, you really should take a break.....grab a bite. You will feel much better when shooting the rest of the day.

I am just not relying on venues or my clients to make arrangements for their vendors....because they rarely do no matter what the contact says.....

I certainly wasn't saying not to take a meal break. I just prefer to be away from the din and crowd for a while. I find it more restful.

If you don't feel the need to eat during a long wedding day, that's ok but you have an obligation to see to it that others that may be working with you, for you or substituting for you because you were ill, are treated with respect and dignity. All people are entitled to eat if they are working long hours. It just make good sense to be fed on the premise
Allen W

THIS is a big reason I want to get out of weddings!! Have you ever noticed the higher end the wedding, the less hospitable people can be with food? I recently shot a wedding for a friend of a friend. The Bride of this wedding told my friend that the high end reception hall told the bride and groom not to feed the photographer or videographer!!! So a lot of times it may be the videographers fault for not discussing it before the event.

It’s not a big deal for me as I am a people person (no need to put it in the contract). I just go up to the b&g and talk about it (there is not issue if you explain it like a diplomat). Like other people have said, they don’t want you leaving.

Also- Anyone have a bride go off on them for taking a bathroom break??? Haha, they get all pissed off when you come back, like “where’s the damn videographer”. Then they look at you like you did something horrible. Again, another reason to get out of weddings and into corporate/broadcast.

LOL

I work in broadcast and am trying to get into weddings.

Now why would you want to go and do something like that......LOL I don’t think you can compair working in the broadcast Industry to owning a commercial videography/photography business, but I see your point. There are pros and cons of any job.

You must work for some crazy folks, I have never heard anything so rediculous.

Ya know something though.....like any other job, when it's time to break, take one. eat...whatever. It's odd to see a post go on and on about how us vendors "should" or should not be fed by our clients, that is also rediculous. Pack a lunch like the other 98% of the worlds population........I mean, how many jobs out there have their clients provide meals for them...not many, Hollywood TV SHows and Movies are the extreme few.


I do not think we as vendors "deserve" to have a meal provided by our client's, if they do it... than I am appreciative but to expect or demand it?????

I'd love to see anyone go for any other job interview in the world....and during the meeting say to the HR person......"by the way, i must request a hot meal for lunch.....I work so hard, and a good meal makes me so happy"......this is nuts!

Agree with you completely, I don't want, or expect, anyone to give me a meal, I can make a good enough sandwich myself. It's no trouble.
The way I look at it is, it's an expensive day for the couple anyway!

Mike.

***You must work for some crazy folks, I have never heard anything so rediculous.***

Haha, or maybe I've been in the business long enough to come across ridiculous people :-) Actually, the B&G dont realize your going to the bathroom, all they know is that your not around when something important happens.

There is a big difference between you and the other vendors, because you are with the B&G for 8 hours or more, on your feet, with little down time. Do I think I "deserve" a meal?? No, but consider this- A lot of people wont show up, so a lot of food will go to waste. The B&G are not saving anything by telling you to eat out.

***Hollywood TV SHows and Movies are the extreme few***

Actually its very common to feed crew as part of budgeting. The "unofficial" standard is pizza and soda. LOL

interesting points, however even wth a packed lunch one must take the time to eat it... i think that is more relevant than the meal itself.

I for one do not "demand" a meal, however its contracted to KNOW whether or not a meal is provided.. if they dont tell me and i dont bring something decent to eat, then i get rather pissed as i may not have the time to go out and look for something to eat..

one thing to have now started to demand however, is parking fees... its become a joke, November 2006, i ended up paying $240 in parking

oh yes...the parking fees get ridiculous......i pay them but I have already incorporated and average parking rate into my packages. if you do not do this, I would surely bill the client for the parking fees.....that is more than fair in my opinion.

as for everyone else.....take a break at some point during the long wedding day, it is needed by anyone no matter how old you are! not too many folk would work a 10 to 12 hr day without a break at some point....and I GUARENTEE YOUR client would not go to work without having a break at some point, so you are no different. theres always time at some point and we all need to make it a point to fit one in.......peace out my people.

leaving to eat...
 

I have never left to eat because i never know when a good shot will happen. once, the couple were signing the license and hte photo wasn't there. i held up the signing because i knew the couple (former roommate actually) would want photos so i had the dj call the photographer over the pa system.....twice heheheh until he finally showed up from somewhere in the back looking quite annoyed.

i suppose my first contract might mention something along that line, but i'll worry about that later.

jason

""i never know when a good shot will happen. "
((And this is why when u mention meals in your agrement, you state this fact.. When this question is raised ("will i miss a shot if i run to grab a bite to eat") couples usually think about it and dont want u to be at risk of losing that shot... its a gamble that THEY take..
Your meal and prescence in the reception affects THEM.. if it didnt affect them, they wouldnt care, but if you MAKE IT so it affects them, then they will be inclined to bend your way. ))

""once, the couple were signing the license and hte photo wasn't there. i held up the signing because i knew the couple (former roommate actually) would want photos so i had the dj call the photographer over the pa system.....twice heheheh until he finally showed up from somewhere in the back looking quite annoyed.""

((This is quite common, from starting the speeches through to cake and the like.. there are may instances where a Photog is not This, again, this is a contracted item where the client or their representative (ie DJ MC Family memeber) must provide suficient time and notice in advance prior to any event. Prefereably 10 minutes in case i need to go take a leak or make a fone call to the missus. But this is important as sometimes when family members MC weddings, they have no idea what theyre doing, so dont think to tell anyone whats going on.
If however you contract it that you must be advised, and youre not, ur at least not liable for missing a shot, or the begining of a speech or whatever..
I have lost count on how many phone calls ive made telling a photog that the speeches or cake cut is about to start.. ))

""i suppose my first contract might mention something along that line, but i'll worry about that later.""
IMO, you should worry about his now...


CYA - Cover your ass

Cya
 

You are correct of course, i do need the CYA bits.... Also I don't intend to have any new wedding customers until summer (busy with corporate clients now and a full time sw development job).

jason

There is no right or wrong answer here, myself, I eat andI address it in the contract.

"18. The client agrees to provide DMB VP the same meal as the guests at the reception. If this arrangement cannot be made, a lack of coverage will occur due to the videographer(s) going "off-site" to eat a proper meal. "

Also, I discuss seating with the client and explain to them that I need a spot that has a clear shot during diner. I need to be able to quickly shoot should something happen. I also remind them that I am there eyes and ears for life.
If they choose to seat me in a far corner, and during that time, the shots feel like a security's camera, well. that is there call. Thankfully, most times, nothing but some kissing or singing happens during the meal so it doesn't matter where I sit, but if there are speeches in between courses, I need someplace up front and centered. Otherwise, after diner, I just position myself where I need to be without being too much in the way.

To eat or not to eat? :)
 

I'm with alot of the other posters here who have it in their contract that a meal will be provided if food is being served. When we do our pre-shoot meeting with the client we go over our contract with them to ensure we're all on the same page. I've never once had a client balk at the idea of providing us with a meal. They are actually quite happy in most cases to provide it. As with everything else explained in the contract, we treat the client respectfully and they return the favor.

I think the idea of stating you will leave for an hour (or leave at all!) to get a meal is not great client service and I wouldn't really consider doing it. I can't imagine taking the risk of missing an important shot at the reception. Sometimes it's hard to find time to eat because I'm so busy gathering shots or interviewing the bridal party. I just go with the flow, and take breaks as time allows.

It is definitely a good idea to bring some of your own food/water just in case you miss the opportunity to hop into the buffet line! Fortunately I shoot with a partner most of the time so one of us will get food for both while the other is working.

PS - don't forget the breath mints!